| Khoe | |
|---|---|
| Central Khoisan (obsolete) | |
| Geographic distribution | Namibia and the Kalahari Desert |
| Linguistic classification | Khoe–Kwadi[1]
|
| Proto-language | Proto-Khoe |
| Subdivisions | |
| Language codes | |
| Glottolog | khoe1241 |
The Khoe (/ˈkweɪ/[2] KWAY) languages are the largest of the non-Bantu language families indigenous to Southern Africa. They were once considered to be a branch of a Khoisan language family, and were known as Central Khoisan in that scenario. Though Khoisan is now rejected as a family, the name is retained as a term of convenience.
The most numerous and only well-known Khoi language is Khoikhoi (Nama/Damara) of Namibia. The rest of the family is found predominantly in the Kalahari Desert of Botswana. The languages are similar enough that a fair degree of communication is possible between Khoikhoi and the languages of Botswana.
The Khoi languages were the first Khoisan languages known to European colonists and are famous for their clicks, though these are not as extensive as in other Khoisan language families. There are two primary branches of the family, Khoikhoi of Namibia and South Africa, and Tshu–Khwe of Botswana and Zimbabwe. Except for Nama, they are under pressure from national or regional languages such as Tswana.